diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 3ce8f10fa..6e4f3c04f 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ IF( TOMAHAWK_VERSION_RC )
 ENDIF()
 
 # additional info for non-release builds
-IF( NOT BUILD_RELEASE )
+IF( NOT BUILD_RELEASE AND EXISTS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/.git/" )
     INCLUDE( CMakeDateStamp )
     SET( TOMAHAWK_VERSION_DATE "${CMAKE_DATESTAMP_YEAR}${CMAKE_DATESTAMP_MONTH}${CMAKE_DATESTAMP_DAY}" )
     IF( TOMAHAWK_VERSION_DATE GREATER 0)